Since 2009, South Africans have used Google Maps for mobile to get directions on the go. However, wouldn’t it be great if your phone could tell you when your turn-off was coming or what to do if you miss a turn-off?

Well, after much anticipation Google Maps Navigation (Beta) for phones running Android 1.6 and above is finally here! It includes everything you’d expect from a GPS navigation system – turn-by-turn voice guidance and automatic rerouting – and more. Unlike most navigation systems, Google Maps Navigation was built from the ground up to take advantage of your phone's Internet connection.

Here are a few of of the best features:

Satellite view: Google Maps Navigation uses the same satellite imagery as Google Maps on the desktop to help you get to your destination. Turn on the satellite layer for a high-resolution, 3D view of your upcoming route.

No more updates: When using Google Maps Navigation, your phone automatically gets the most up-to-date maps and business listings from Google Maps — you never need to buy map upgrades or update your device.

Where are we going? Why type when you can just say it instead? You can speak your destination into Google Maps using Voice Search.

Search as you go… For those times when you're already on the road and need to find a business, Google Maps Navigation searches along your route to give you results that won't take you far from your path. You can search for a specific business by name or by type, or you can turn on popular layers, such as petrol stations, restaurants or parking.

Street View: With Street View, you can see pictures of upcoming turns with your route overlaid. And since locating an address can sometimes be tricky, we'll show you a picture of your destination as you approach the end of your route, so you'll know exactly what to look for.